The Qinghai to Tibet railway began full operation from July 1, 2006. It symbolises Tibet’s historical inaccessibility via railway. The total distance from Lhasa to Xining by railway is 1956 kilometres, and it is the world’s highest railway extending for the longest distance through a plateau of permanent frost. The Qinghai to Tibet railway began full operation from July 1, 2006. It symbolises Tibet’s historical inaccessibility via railway. The total distance from Lhasa to Xining by railway is 1956 kilometres, and it is the world’s highest railway extending for the longest distance through a plateau of permanent frost.